2023 Transfer Error Ends – Celtic finally agree €1.5 million deal to offload winger | OneFootball

Celtic has agreed the deal with Rapid Vienna to sell Australian winger Marco Tilio. Initially this was going to be a loan with an option to buy but as Celtic waited on developments from their own pursuit of players,  the situation changed with the Austrian side now happy to sign the player outright.

Luke McCowan of Celtic FC celebrates with teammate Marco Tilio of Celtic FC after scoring a goal during the Pre-Season Friendly match between Sporting CP and Celtic at Estadio Algarve on July 16, 2025 in Faro, Portugal. (Photo by Gualter Fatia/Getty Images)

Sky Sports Austia reporter Flügelspieler Marco has posted on social media that the deal has now been finalised. His post translates something very close to this…

‘Agreement reached after weeks of negotiations: Winger Marco Tilio, the 23 year-old Australian moves permanently to Rapid Vienna after initial talks about a loan with Celtic. Transfer fee around €1.5 million.’

Marco Tilio of the Socceroos in action during a Socceroos training session at Perth Stadium on June 06, 2025 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Imag

Tilio was yet another of the summer 2023 transfer window punts that – other than perhaps Yang – produced little and burdened incoming manager Brendan Rodgers with a raft of players he deemed inadequate to play for Celtic.

Marco Tilio arrived at Celtic injured and was given a few run-outs before being sent back to Melbourne on loan. He returned for pre-season this summer and was given some game-time in the various pre-season matches but it was clear that the manager didn’t see him as part of his plans.

ALEAGUE JETS CITY, Marco Tilio of City celebrates after scoring a goal during the A-League Men Round 1 match between the Newcastle Jets and the Melbourne City at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle, Saturday, October 19, 2024. Photo DAN HIMBRECHTS

Rodgers has been criticised for ‘wasting’ money on three big signings last summer – Idah, Engels and Trusty – yet those making these claims say very little about the summer spending spree of 2023 when Celtic were between managers and the Jota money was essentially wasted.

Adam Idah scores the winner for Celtic in the 2024 Scottish Cup Final against theRangers at Hampden. Photo Vagelis Georgariou for The Celtic Star

Adam idah

Idah came in on loan at a time he was being valued at £3m but Celtic did NOT agree an option to buy. He arrived at the same time as Nicolas Kuhn and the Irish striker played a significant role in Celtic winning both the Scottish Premiership and also the Scottish Cup, scoring a late winner against theRangers in the final.

Norwich brilliantly capitalised on this to secure the highest possible price. Not Idah’s fault, nor indeed Brendan’s. Idah was used mostly as a substitute last season and scored 20 goals – a decent return. This season he’s started badly but we are just a handful of games into the season.

Arne Engels of Celtic Sporting Lisbon v Celtic, Pre Season Friendly, Football, Estadio Algarve, Portugal – 16 Jul 2025 Estadio Algarve Portugal Photo Carlos Rodrigues Shutterstock

Arne Engels

Engels was a 20 year-old with bags of potential when he signed for Celtic, amid interest from Atalanta. He had a decent first season but like Idah was not without his critics.  Engels will be a decent player for Celtic this season.  Brendan said Celtic were buying potential when they signed Engels and his development will continue for this season at least under the current Celtic manager.

Auston Trusty of Celtic during the pre-season friendly match between Celtic and Newcastle United at Celtic Park on July 19, 2025 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Auston Trusty

Trusty arrived for a lower fee – around £6m and adapted to the Scottish game after some bumps in the road, especially that night up at Dundee. He’s a decent defender and while Liam Scales (who also gets stick) is the manager’s first pick at the moment that could easily change.

All three signings played significant roles in Celtic’s decent Champions League campaign last season.

So let’s hear a little less criticism on these three current players from those who don’t ever talk about the 2023 summer signings, including Marco Tilio who obviously we wish the best of luck in Vienna.

The Celtic blogger,  famous for being notoriously close to the current Celtic chairman, whose so was in charge of the summer 2023 recruitment, earlier this week actually did mention that transfer window,. He wrote about Kwon who moved from Celtic to French side Nantes this summer after two unsuccessful loan spells at St Mirren and then Hibs.

Kwon apparently made his debut for Nantes against PSG last weekend and played well. One game in and that was being used as an excuse to attack Brendan Rodgers for failing to see the Korean’s potential. Don’t believe me? Go read it for yourself.

Last time those of us who supported Brendan stayed silent because of the manner of his exit. This time that will not be the case. Gloves will well and truly be off.

Celtic in the Eighties by David Potter. Foreword by Danny McGrain. Published on Celtic Star Books on 5 September 2025. Click on image to pre-order.

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